Barack Obama led a global wave of emergency pledges to Haiti tonight with
a promise that "one of the largest relief efforts in recent history" was
under way.

Dozens of countries, from as far afield as Iceland and New Zealand, sent
rescue workers, medical equipment and temporary shelter and made cash
donations.

The US committed $100m (60m) in aid and the support of thousands of
troops. An aircraft carrier, the Carl Vinson, was due to arrive off
Haiti's coast tonight with the Pentagon saying it would also send three
amphibious ships, including one carrying up to 2,000 marines.

Separately, 3,500 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division were being sent
to assist with relief efforts, along with National Guard teams based in
Puerto Rico. A search team from the Los Angeles county fire department had
already arrived.

The UK announced an initial sum of just over 6m, and a fire service team
with sniffer dogs was beginning work around the Haitian capital,
Port-au-Prince, immediately.

The Disasters Emergency Committee, which coordinates major fundraising on
behalf of a dozen British-based charities, is to broadcast a television
and radio appeal tonight on all major channels. Gordon Brown urged Britons
to help as best they could after "a tragedy beyond imagination", while
Buckingham Palace said the Queen had made a personal contribution.

Millions of pounds were pouring into public appeals elsewhere, especially
in the US, where fundraising efforts have been led by stars such as the
musician Wyclef Jean, who was born in Haiti.

There was particular sympathy from countries which have suffered recent
devastating earthquakes of their own. A Chinese rescue team which worked
in the 2008 Sichuan quake was among the first to arrive from elsewhere.
Indonesia, which suffered most severely from the 2004 tsunami caused by a
massive undersea tremor, called for a massive international effort.

By far the biggest immediate pledge came from the US. In an emotional
White House address aimed at an international audience and his country's
big Haitian-American population, President Obama said the scale of the
disaster in Haiti required "every element of our national capacity",
adding: "This is one of those moments that calls out for American
leadership."

He concluded: "To the people of Haiti, we say clearly, and with
conviction, you will not be forsaken; you will not be forgotten. In this,
your hour of greatest need, America stands with you. The world stands with
you. We know that you are a strong and resilient people. You have endured
a history of slavery and struggle, of natural disaster and recovery.